Improvement



w. F. SMELLEY.

Lifting Gate. No. 47,994. Patented May 30, 1865.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WM. F. SMELLEY, OF VEVAY, INDIANA.

IMPROVEMENT I N FARM-GATES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 47,994, dated May 30, 1865.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM F. SMELLEY, of Vevay, Switzerland county, Indiana, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Farm-Gates; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification.

My invention relates to a mode of constructing farm and other gates which enables their easy and effectual restoration to the working condition after having become sagged by long use and exposure.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a gate embodying my invention, a portion being broken away to show the mode of connecting the parts. Fig. 2 shows aportion of the outer end of the gate.

A represents the inner or hinge stile of the gate. B represents the outer stile thereof. The rails C are not rigidly framed within the stiles, as in the common mode, but instead thereof are permitted some vertical play in the mortises D, which mortises are for that purpose cut obliquely in the manner represented, a single bolt, E, through each mortise likewise permitting vertical play of the entire frame-work about said bolts as pivots or centers, and at the same time holding the parts of the gate securely together. Vertical battens F, near the middle of the gate, are likewise secured to the rails by means of a single bolt at each intersection.

G is a truss having its lower end pivoted at g to the inner stile, and having its upper end brought to a point, soas to engage in a ratchet, H, upon the batten F. This truss G is restricted to a certain amount of play upon its pivot g by means of a yoke, I. For the sake of durability I bush the pivot-hole of my truss G, and shoe its point with iron, while my ratchet His also of iron. A cheaper form, however, of my improvement may be composed wholly of wood, the bolts E being replaced by wooden pins.

A gate which has been sagged by use and exposure to the elements may be restored to instant and complete efficiency by simply elevating the outer end of the gate until the point of the truss drops into the next notch of the ratchet.

I claim herein as new and of my invention The combination of the rack H with the pivoted truss G and gate A B O F, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony of which invention I hereunto set my hand.

W. F. SMELLEY. Witnesses:

GEO. H. KNIGHT, JAMES H. LAYMAN. 

